Now flourishing with Titans, Walker reflects on Smith’s travails and drunk-driving awareness

Delanie Walker, who left the 49ers last spring to become the Tennessee Titans marquee tight end, figured former teammate Aldon Smith had learned from some 2012 off-field travails. Then came Smith’s drunken-driving arrest last month, much to Walker’s dismay.

“I didn’t think he’d get into any more trouble after what was going on,” Walker said Wednesday on a conference call to preview Sunday’s 49ers-Titans game. “I don’t know. I don’t know how he’s changed. I haven’t been out to San Francisco. I haven’t talked to him in a while. It kind of did surprise me a little bit.”

Smith will miss a fourth straight game while seeking treatment at an in-patient facility following his Sept. 20 single-car accident and subsequent arrest for suspicion of drunken driving. Walker said he hasn’t kept in touch with Smith.

“Aldon is a young guy. You know, he’s a little wild dude. He’s kind of wild,” Walker added. “I didn’t think something like that would happen during the season, where I read what happened.”

Earlier last month, Walker was named with Smith in civil suits by men who sustained gunshot wounds at a 2012 party at Smith’s house; Walker and Smith allegedly discharged weapons from a balcony to disperse the crowd but their shots did not hit the men suing them. Walker did not comment on those lawsuits.

Walker has became outspoken in another off-field area, joining Mother’s Against Drunk Driving to raise awareness about their campaign. His aunt and uncle died in a car accident – hit by an alleged drunk driver — near New Orleans hours after Super Bowl XLVII.

“Guys heard my story around the league,” Walker said. “When I got here (to Tennesee), they all got to me and said wanted to be part of it and help out as much as they can.

“Hearing what happened with Aldon, that’s why I’m trying to get it out there. You hate to hear that happens to a former teammate or any teammate or anybody on another team.”

After spending seven seasons with the 49ers and being overshadowed by Vernon Davis, Walker is on a career-best pace, having totaled 20 receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns.

“Mainly because I’m the first read at tight end,” Walker said of his production. “They put in plays for me to get the ball and you have opportunities to make plays. That’s all I ask for and that’s why I’m here.”

He’s dropped 2-of-28 passes intended for him, after racking up 11 drops on 48 targets all of last season, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

“He’s had very few drops. That hasn’t been a problem here, that we’ve seen,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “So far so good.”

The Titans started 3-1 this season but have lost two straight behind quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, their injury replacement for Jake Locker (hip). Walker said Fitzpatrick is more of a pocket passer than the mobile Locker.

Walker blossomed into a versatile tool the past two seasons with the 49ers, who used his receiving skills and blocking improvement as their so-called “Swiss Army Knife.” He was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 draft out of Central Missouri State.

Walker signed a four-year, $17.5 million deal with the Titans in March. Handling such wealth is a challenge for several athletes, Walker noted.

“A lot of us come into the league not having a dime to our name, then you sign a $1 million contract,” Walker said. “You kind of go out and lose your mind a little bit. It takes time.

“If you look at the percentage of NFL players that sign major deals, they have some ups and down those first two years and third year, then you realize you’re a role model, you’ve got to be a bigger person and you’ve got to separate yourself from people that put you in that (bad) situation.”

Munchak praised Walker’s leadership skills, not to mention his production after missing training camp and most of the exhibitions season after arthroscopic knee surgery.

Walker can also offer the Titans some insight into the 49ers defense, which he described as playing as fast and as explosive as ever.

“It’s kind of funny I’m about to be playing against them,” Walker said. “I’ll try not to laugh or smile at them, because I’ve got to go to war against them. … We’ll talk and laugh before the game. We tell each other we’ll be friends after this but you know how it is once the whistle blows. I’m going to lay it out and they’re going to lay it out.”

Walker expects that to hold especially true with 49ers safeties Donte Whitner and Eric Reid. As for Whitner’s proposed name change to Hitner, Walker endorsed it, stating: “It fits. The dude hits. He likes to come up and try to destroy people.”